Many would believe that the country’s first implementation of the congestion charge was in central London. Many would be wrong.

On Tuesday 1 October 2002, a small city containing barely over 40,000 residents started charging road users £2 for entry to the ‘peninsula’ area of the city centre.

Not too different from the London congestion charge, money raised from the scheme goes towards the local transport infrastructure. However it is a far cry from the millions needed to be spent in the London area. The initial intention of the scheme was to provide a bus service to the cathedral as well as funding a Shopmobility scheme for disabled residents.

Saddler street has enjoyed 90% clearer roads since 2002

In early July 2006 the Sydney Morning Herald acknowledged the efforts of the Durham County Council by declaring their scheme as “the most successful” congestion charge in the world.

With a supposed drop of 90% in traffic it outshines the 20% drop found in London. Of course with a 7.5 million person difference in populous it isn’t something to look at in too much detail.

The technology isn’t something to be wowed about either. Compared to the 1984-esque surveillance of the London congestion zone by 230 cameras in the area, Durham’s traffic problems are solved by a single camera.

Drivers who can’t pay the charge on entrance will still be permitted to pass through the barriers, but if they don’t pay the charge by the end of the working day they will face a £30 fine. Similar to the London system the driver’s number plate is fed through to the DVLA database notifying the authorities of the driver and their details.

Next >>> An interview with Durham County Council's Head of Traffic